Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Rape and Incest as a Presidential Campaign Issues: What Century is This?

When my husband and I travel around the world, we're impressed by the attention American politics receives, evidenced in conversations with practically any foreign nationals we encounter. Which is why the rape, incest and resulting horrible ideation voiced by Congressman Akin of Missouri is such a miserably degrading example of American politics. These subjects make all Americans look stupid.Congressman Akin of Missouri demonstrated ignorance, like a pre-stone age humanoid, when he told a conservative Fox-and-Friends news anchor that a woman's body somehow, magically, blocks pregnancy when rape occurs. Moreover, contrary to Akin's dementia induced comment about "legitimate rape", a rape is rape- it's never legitimate. Rape is an act of violence against women. Too often, it's perpetrated on family members who are defenseless young girls. Rape is rape. Incest is the rape of a family member. Both acts of violence should be condemned and never rationalized, mitigated or qualified in any way. But, believe it or not, this is just the beginning of the politics of women's health Americans are now embroiled in. Wait! There's more:

"Draft language for the 2012 Republican Party platform includes support for a constitutional ban on abortion without specifying exclusions in the cases of rape or incest (according to CNN). The news comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Rep. Todd Akin's (R-Mo.) suggestion that victims of 'legitimate rape' rarely get pregnant. The GOP Senate candidate running against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) faces calls to abandon his campaign from both parties despite attempting to walk back his remarks."

Rape as violence and a political issue is worse than a disgusting commentary on the low level of American political discourse. For many people in the world, rape is as violent as gun violence among those who have expressed worry about the danger of living in the United States.

Many Americans have an inflated image of ourselves as inheritors of the land of the free.

In reality, the image of gun violence has superseded the "streets lined with gold", once envied by those who aspired to become American citizens.

Now, rape has entered the political discourse.

While Republicans create obstructionist policies to limit voters rights and keep immigrants out, they won't substantially act to prevent the cancerous growth of violent imagery, now dragging us down as civilized people.

Governor Romney didn't even criticize the degrading language Rush Limbaugh used when he "name called" a woman Georgetown University student on his right wing radio show.

It's waxing nostalgic to recall the "olden days" when politicians focused on issues about world affairs, taxation, public health policies or defense initiatives.

This is the 21st century. We know rape and incest do, in fact, sadly, often lead to unwanted pregnancies.

Politicians have no business, whatsoever, speaking about either degrading subject, except to condemn them both for being criminal acts of violence.

Republicans must remove any discussion of women's health issues and abortion from their national platform.